prep. and adv. Obs. or dial. [orig. alonges, f. ALONG with advb. genitive -es (see also ENDLONGS); but very early corrupted to alongest, alongst, as if it were a superlative form, which perhaps also led to its being considered more emphatic. Cf. against, amongst, amidst, betwixt, etc.]
A. prep.
1. Down or through the length of (in contrast to across, athwart).
1250. Lay., 19677. Þar isete in langes [1205 on longen] þane strete.
1470. Harding, Chron., ccxlii. Passe alongest the brydge.
1533. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 21. Fower other tables alongest the hall.
1587. Turberville, Trag. T. (1837), 30. Alongst the lawnde he kest his eye.
1600. Chapman, Iliad, IV. 227. The herald flew From troop to troop along’st the host.
c. 1630. Drumm. of Hawth., James II., Wks. 1711, 29. At a horse’s tail, is dragg’d alongst the streets.
2. By the side of, close by, parallel to.
1580. C. Hoddesdon, in T. Wright, Q. Eliz. (1838), II. 115. The malecontents … alongest the frontiers.
1588. Cavendish, in Beveridge, Hist. Ind. (1858), I. I. ix. 210. Alongst the coast of Chili.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. i. (1641), 2/1. But ’longst the shore … must coast.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. 129. Should send Gallies alongst the coast of the Red Sea.
1633. H. Cogan, Pinto’s Voy., liv. 212. By Land alongst the Rivers side.
1839. Stonehouse, Axholme, 68. Alongst both sides screens, formed of reeds, are set up.
B. adv.
1. In the direction of the length of anything, onwards by the side of something.
1550. Nicoll, Thucyd., 68 (R.). To sayle alongest by the lande.
1575. Turberville, Bk. Venerie, 156. They follow a furrow, rowting and worming all alongst by some balke.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. II. 329. And plied vp alongst till we came within seuen or eight leagues to Cape Trepointes. Ibid., II. 105. This coast all alongst is very lowe.
2. Lengthwise (in contrast to athwart).
1562. Bulleyn, Dial. Sorenes, 14 b. Thinsisscion must be made … alongest.
1737. Ozell, Rabelais, I. I. xliii. 297. Striking athwart and alongst, and every way.
3. In company; side by side, together with: cf. ALONG adv. 3.
1773. Monboddo, Lang., I. I. vi. 58. Thus far the brute goes alongst with us.
c. 1817. Hogg, Tales & Sk., V. 27. The unaccountable monster actually tried to get in alongst with them.
4. On to, or as far as, a place otherwise indicated.
1650. Dundas, in Carlyle, Cromw. (1871), III. 94. Such I hope you will permit to come alongst at the first opportunity.
5. Comb. alongst-ships = along-ships: see ALONG adv. 9.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit. (1868), 5. Brought her spritsaile yarde alongst shippes.
